i 9 02] WONDERFUL ESCAPE OF HARE 185 



For the events which succeeded the distressing night of 

 March 1 1 I draw on my diary : 



''March 12. — Though the glass has risen continuously and 

 uniformly, the wind has only grown steadier without diminish- 

 ing, but there is very little of the driving snow which made 

 last night so hideous. Another search party were out early 

 under Wilson ; they went well provided with ice-axes, rope, 

 and crampons, and even thus had to use great care in venturing 

 on the fatal slope where so much happened yesterday. They 

 brought back the sledges and two more dogs, but could see no 

 sign of the missing men. But indeed it would be beyond 

 hope to find them alive after such a night ; at least, we now 

 know the worst. Some of the men are overwrought ; twice to- 

 day it has been reported that someone thought he saw a figure 

 crawling down the hillside, and on one occasion the illusion 

 was so strong that two or three ran to the other side of the 

 bay, only to find a boulder over which the drift was sweeping 

 in fantastic curls.' 



' March 13. — It is still blowing, and the temperature is 

 — 6° ; but the air is clear, and, the glass having reached a 

 maximum, there are hopes of a change for the better. We are 

 raising steam, as I want to view the scene of the accident from 

 the sea, and to make certain as to Vince's fate at least.' 



Later I write : t A very extraordinary thing has happened. 

 At 10 a.m. a figure was seen descending the hillside. At first 

 we thought it must be someone who had been for an early 

 walk ; but it was very soon seen that the figure was walking 

 weakly, and, immediately after, the men who were working in 

 the hut were seen streaming out towards it. In a minute or 

 two we recognised the figure as that of young Hare, and in 

 less than five he was on board. He was taken into the 

 magnetic house, as it was thought unwise to take him into the 

 full warmth of the living-quarters at once. We soon discovered 

 that, though exhausted, weak, and hungry, he was in full 

 possession of his faculties and quite free from frost-bites. He 

 went placidly off to sleep whilst objecting to the inadequacy 

 of a milk diet. 



